WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and SportsVa crime panel extends juvenile justice study
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Associated Press - December 15, 2009 1:15 PM ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Children's advocates are disappointed that the Virginia State Crime Commission is taking another year to study the transfer of juvenile offenders to the adult justice system.
The commission, which has studied the issue for three years, said Tuesday that it still needs more information. State Del. David Albo said that without more research, proposals to revamp the system have no chance of passing.
Lianne (LEE'-ann) Rozzell says there's also no chance children's advocates will quit fighting for change. Rozzell is executive director of Families and Allies of Virginia's Youth.
Advocates say reforms passed in the mid-1990s give prosecutors too much authority to try juveniles as adults. They say this puts juveniles at risk of assault in jail, increases their chances of re-offending, and disproportionately affects blacks.
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